Southern California - How early do you start GMR?

I rode up GMR and part of GRR Sunday morning. Since I have a wife and 20 month old, I had to get out there pretty early. I woke at 5 and left Irvine just before 6. I was at the bottom near the equestrian ranch and on the road just before 7.

I was into GRR about 6 miles by 9am when I decided to turn back (made a nice 30 mile out-n-back). Again, since I have a young family, I can't be spending all day riding. I was home by 12 noon. At any rate, at the bottom of GMR on my way down, I think I ran into Hillbasher (I'm not sure - the guy had a a bluish Scattante and looks like someone from the many GMR pictures posted in other threads). BTW, I was riding a White/Red Specialized Allez wearing a yellow shell jacket.

My pace was really slow - I'm doing my first century attempt (Mount Laguna Classic) in April - so I was really going at the pace I expect to do my first 20 miles of that century.

At anyrate, I seemed to be the first cyclist up the climb. I didn't see anyone riding until I was already heading down GRR. It felt VERY lonely on GRR (only passed by 2 or 3 cars in a whole hour.) This was my first time on GRR and by the time I turned around, I felt very overwhelmed by the remoteness of the road and quite overcome by the feeling of my smallness in this world. Physically, I think I could've made it to Mt. Baldy Village. This is the first time I was challenged mentally to continue riding.

I have a few questions for those experienced at this ride:
1) How early do you ride GMR/GRR?
2) Do you do it alone often?
3) How long (on average) does it take to go all the way to Mt. Baldy and come back (including stopping for lunch)? Assume doing an out-n-back rather than doing the return loop through the tunnels.

Alone, I'll start at 9 am if it's cool
With company, 10 am, partners travel from other areas
with Hillbasher, 11 am..work schedule
7, 8 at the latest if it's ahot summer day, it's blazing up there.
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I get a funny feeling alone the first couple of times to the village. But it gets better. If I'm prepping for a ride, I'll do GMR to the village once a week alone. With another rider if they feel like coming along.

If I don't feel like being out in the middle alone I will ride to the shack two times. If I'm getting ready for a long ride, I ride to the village, back to the bottom then back up to the shack a second time.

Other times Hillbasher and I have rode to the shack, then down little GMR to Camp Williams (east fork) then back up to the shack.

Whatever you do, make sure you have enough water during the summer, it gets very hot and dry 15 miles up. I barely make it on two large water bottles in the summer. I died up there once but had to return from the other side so that other rider wouldn't steal parts from my bike.:D
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As far as riders, it's not like the trail or even Baseline. Not too many riders will attempt GMR for some reason. Only the really though riders and me!:D

I have been reading posts here but I have a question........what is GMR and GRR? Thanks in advance for help.

i'm very accustomed to riding alone on some very remote roads/ trails, so i can relate to your feeling of smallness or loneliness, but contrary, i find it very relaxing and introspective. just make sure you a self sufficient to handle pretty much any type of mechanical. and ride within yourself especially on the descents or if you are choosing a particularly long route. as mentioned, make sure you have plenty of water and nutrition in case you feel a bonk coming on. cell phone reception is usually no go out in the wilderness so just make sure someone somewhere knows the road you're riding. outside of a mountain lion attacking you between dusk and dawn, which is about as rare as lightning striking you, riding alone out there is very safe and fun so take that time and space as your own and enjoy it, especially if the wifey is going to have a honey-do list for you upon return.

I have been reading posts here but I have a question........what is GMR and GRR? Thanks in advance for help.

GMR = Glendora Mountain Road
GRR = Glendora Ridge Road

Both are near Glendora, CA

Lowlife - yeah, I was pretty well stocked with enough food and fluids to make it to Mt. Baldy village. I rode most of the ride up the mountain listening to headphones. It was only when I turned off my ipod did I begin to feel so isolated. Funny you mentioned a mountain lion. I didn't see any, but I did come across a coyote on my way up. I stared him down for a while before I decided to sprint past him.

Sunday's ride was pretty incredible though. It was quite cold and damp heading up GMR, but after the shack, the sky was pretty clear. On my way down the mountain, descending through fog was pretty intense. And fenders would've come in handy because the road was wet.

I always knew the entire ride as GMR till I joined the forums!:D

GMR is what many call the first 8 miles up to the shack, a little beyond to the fork. Some call it Big GMR

The shorter section down to Camp Williams is known as Little GMR. (5-6 mile section).

GRR is the 13'ish mile section from the fork (end of Big GMR) to Blady village.

That's my understanding of the situation:p

Lowlife - yeah, I was pretty well stocked with enough food and fluids to make it to Mt. Baldy village. I rode most of the ride up the mountain listening to headphones. It was only when I turned off my ipod did I begin to feel so isolated. Funny you mentioned a mountain lion. I didn't see any, but I did come across a coyote on my way up. I stared him down for a while before I decided to sprint past him.

wow, i've been up there a gazillion times and i have never seen a cougar, deer or coyote... and honsetly, i'd be just fine keeping it that way. where there is one animal, surely a mountain lion can't be that far away? mentioning your ipod is funny because when i'm in traffic and busy streets, that's when i usually have it on, but when i'm up where its super quiet and tranquil, that's when i'll usually have it off. guess i'm more afraid of a cougar sneaking up on me than a big rig roaring up on me, even though the latter is more likely to happen.

Wow, I've seen coyote, and had a deer actually run alongside one of my partners for about 20 yards (Lee). I guess that's why I get the willies riding near the bottom of high shoulders about 17 miles up listening and watching little rocks fall from above.:eek:

I have myself have seen coyotes,deer, bobcat, and lots if bear skat. Just 2 weeks ago as I was coming up through the 3rd switchback towards the bottom, I rode right next to 2 coyotes, one heading up the road, the other down. The one heading down looked at me and kept on going but the one going up didn't even know I was there. Because he was so close to me I started yelling at it, and it didn't even look at me. And I was like, less than 10 feet from it. Sort of freaked me out that it didn't even acknowledge I was there.

idoru2005, that was indeed my old fat butt you saw heading up Sunday morning. Only went up a few miles to get some pictures. Was out of time and had already ridden that morning. If you ever want company on a Sunday morning ride, let me know. I am the slowest one on that road, but I will always make the end.

GMR/GRR...this was our last GMR ride to the village.

Up to point 1:50 is the first 8 miles of GMR.

after he old cars (just past the shed, before the fork) turns into GRR as we continue on!;)

from 2:45 is the descent back to the bottom



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CqoSjxp-Yjg

Hillbasher's picture first 8 miles of GMR (this is about 3 or 4 miles up)
http://i98.photobucket.com/albums/l267/gulpxtreme/GMR3-1.jpg


Just above the shack (seen in background)....Don't worry so much about the coyote and deer up there.

Just hope you don't run into one of these! Meaner than a junkyard Dawg!:roflmao2:
http://i98.photobucket.com/albums/l267/gulpxtreme/gmr8.jpg

I still need to ride that road. Looks like fun. Looks like a much easier ride than some of the ones I've been doing in the Laguna Mountains. I just have to add in the drive from San Diego.

I still need to ride that road. Looks like fun. Looks like a much easier ride than some of the ones I've been doing in the Laguna Mountains. I just have to add in the drive from San Diego.

What length and grades are the Laguna MTns? I'm not familiar with them.

GMR to the village is just under 5000 ft of climbing in 21 miles.

Well, Pine Creek Road has a nice section of about 18% for about 1/2 mile. Climb depends on the start point, but from Pine Valley, you're only looking at 3700' in about 15 miles. Lots of fun. The grades on GMR and GRR look more consistent, which for me are easier to climb. I can usually find a good pace and will stick with it as long as my energy holds. None of it is "easy" but isn't so tough that it isn't fun.

Hey sd_mike,
I'm doing the Mount Laguna Classic in April. I guess since that climb is "in your backyard", you probably wouldn't pay to do a century there (maybe a bad assumption). I'm planning to do a sort of pre-ride in mid-March. The Classic does three loops of Mt. Laguna - perhaps you are familiar with the three approaches to the summit? Anyway, I'm looking for someone to ride one of the loops with. Would you be interested in acting as a guide/riding partner for my pre-ride? Send me a PM if you are interested.

Thanks,
Darren

always wondered what time is a good time to do this ride. looking to make a first attempt this weekend or next.

also, how much water do people bring on this ride? are there spots to refill along the route? i tend to sweat a lot, especially when climbing. i consume a tad more than 1oz/mile on hard (for me) rides.

In short, I wouldn't pay to go on a century ride anywhere, especially if the roadways are open to the public. I can bring food or plan accordingly. I haven't paid yet for that sort of ride. I have paid for rides where the roads were closed off. And to GMR/GRR, are these roads open, at least to bicycling, when they are gated to automobiles? Forest Service roadways are unless otherwise posted, but those are County roadways and may be subject to different rules.

QUOTE always wondered what time is a good time to do this ride. looking to make a first attempt this weekend or next.

also, how much water do people bring on this ride? are there spots to refill along the route? i tend to sweat a lot, especially when climbing. i consume a tad more than 1oz/mile on hard (for me) rides.[/QUOTE]

138920(click pic)Crystal Lake switchbacks
138921Intersection of East Fork and GMR
138922Switchbacks on lower GMR
138923Top of GMR

This time of year ice may be problem early in morning if rain has fallen the day before or there is snow melt on road that might have frozen overnight. 8 or 9 AM start is usually good. As far as water, doubt if anyone heads out to the Village with less than 2 bottles. No refilling anywhere on route. You say 1 oz. per mile , but not on this ride. 22 miles one way of mostly uphill climbing. Other rides in the area include down to the East Fork and then back up to GMR. Adds 10 miles and 1500 feet of climbing approx. Or down to the E.F. and then over to 39 and either up towards Crystal Lake and A. C. Highway or down 39 to Sierra Madre and back East to the bottom of GMR.If one likes climbing , it is hard to beat this area.

Since my last ride up there was my first attempt to make it to the village, I brought a lot food and fluids. I have a seat-post rack that I use with a trunk bag. That's my preference since I don't like riding with my pockets filled up. I actually brought more than I needed because I'm still sorting out which kinds of food/fluids work best with me for longer rides. As for fluids, I brought 2 full bottles with electrolytes and 2 plain water bottles. I also took a couple juice boxes.

I concur with Hillbasher about the road conditions after a rain. While descending GRR and GMR, there was fog and the road was wet. I've got a pair of CRUD fenders that I'll be running on my next trip up there.

This Sunday I'll probably have another go towards the Village. This time around my wife and kid will probably drive ahead of me and wait for me at the village. We've been wanting to take our 21 month old daughter to the snow. And with my rides getting longer and longer, it's nice to be able to include them. Plus I'll have a warm ride home.

thanks for the info hillbasher and idoru. looks like rain this weekend so my first attempt will have to wait. sounds like 2 bottles will definitely not be enough for me, might have to bust out the camelback.

tFunk. Keep an eye on the weather. It looks like Sunday may be do-able. If so, then look for me to be out there starting about 9:30AM-ish or send me a PM if you want to ride up with me.

idoru: you're right, sunday looks clear (for now). a shame, though, as i have made plans with the sig-o, so no saddle time for me this weekend.